The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-08-06
CHAPTER III.

When the knight went back to his Gem
panions, he was little confused. He would
have charged second or third time upon a
dozen men with spears and maces, but q
blunt weapon that made such noise stunned
him. He couldn't describe the occurrence
so that his comrades understood him, at all.
A weapon that spit fire like little baby vol
cano was a novelty to him. However, the
general opinion seemed to be that the " cas-.
tie must be stormed Front de Boeuf gal.
lantly led forward again, expecting that the
vile knaves " would take shelter in their
castle, but there they were, sitting quietly
on the doorstep. AS the band of knights
approached, one or two of the cowboys stood
up, some lodged behind neighboring trees
and some went into the hut and Immediately
appeared at the windows. Presently one
raised one..o those half lingth spears. There
was another just such noise as there was
before, and the visor Of Front de Boeuf he'll
met was jerked off and fell, broken, to tn
another streak of fire frem the same short
spear, and the brave Front de Boeuf fell
from his saddle, dead. At the same time
there were flashes of Lightning from behind
several trees, and plumes, helmets and
gauntlets went flying in all directions. All
this happening before the knights were near
enough TO begin charge, the leaders were
bewildered, the horses were terrified by the
noise and the entire army beat a hasty re.
treat. When they came to halt, De Bracy
rode up TO his friend Bots Gilbert, and said
"Ill omen it were to fight these men.
They are bewitched with the devil Did'st
thou mark how they flashed lightning from
their spears, and tore our armor, even be.
yond hearing dstance?"
Surely" responded Bots Gilbert, "surely
they are possessed of evil spirits. Did st
see how they fought with all the thunder
and lightning of the SKYE"
And so the knights we're vanquished
They killed few cattle and ate frugal
meal Of beef, which their slaves cooked over
a camp FIRE; and then, lying down upon the
ground, they went to sleep.
At the ranch it was more quiet. When
the knights had fed, the cowboys came to
gether again and talked it over.
"Guess they never see a Winchester
afore," said one, " but what gifts me is what
they be, anyway, and what they be a-doin'
Of. l never heerd Of no sech jay birds as
them"
I" There's one of EN- out there, kilt" said
another of the herders, and they all went
out to where Front de Boeuf lay. They
pulled off as much of his armor as they
could, and took him to the ranch They
laid him out on rough table, and tried to
revive him.
Poor feller," said one, s'pose he must
a-bin one o. them THAR Salwayshun Army
chaps we hears on. guess he's throwed up
the sponge"
Poor cuss," lamented another, 81 doent
see what he was a.tryin' to get to do, noway,
but he have gone now, certin. He's dead.
err a goldfish" And so they buried him
roughly, yet kind and tende-ly, in their
rude way.
When the knights arose in the morning,
they ate what they could find, without ap.
again. They formed their line of march |
without their bold leader, Bots Gilbert TAX
ing his place at the head of the column.
Their spirits were considerably dampeued,
but they we're still intent on finding and
conquering this queer knight, Uncle Sam.
After they had ridden nearly all day. they
came to a cool brock and stopped in the
shade Of some trees that grew on Its bank
There was road coming down to the bank
of the creek and up again on the other side
and while the knights paused in the shade
and were discussing the probabilities of hnd
ing the castle they sought, there came three
strangers on horseback, and rode into the
creek to let their horses drink. They were
young men, and wore blue coats and gray
trousers, with black stripes down the legs
They all wore low caps, with crossed arms
and the letters ''U. s." on the front. One